THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Plotus melanogaster Schlegei, Mus. Pays-Bas, Pelec., Vol. VI., p, 26, 1863 (part). 
Anhinga novcehollandim Hartert, Katal. Vogels Mus. Senckenb., p. 236, 1891 ; Mathews, 
List Birds Austr., p. 97, 1913. 
Plotus nov(Bhollandi(B derhyi Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., p. 74, 1912 : Derby, 
North-west Australia. 
Plotus novcBhollandim novcehollandim Mathews, Austral Av. Rec., Vol. I., p. 74, 1912 ; 
Mathews and Iredale, Ibis 1913, p. 416. 
Distribution. Australia. 
Adult maU. General colour above and below glossy blue-black ; a broad white band 
on each side of the head enclosing the eye and extending on to the sides of the 
upper-neck ; naked part of throat edged with white ; a large patch of chestnut 
on the fore-neck ; the feathers on the lower hind-neck and upper-mantle more or 
less chestnut at the base ; scapulars and wing-coverts centred with white ; quills 
and tail-feathers uniform black, the two central tail-feathers being transversely 
waved ; innermost secondaries and tail-feathers ribbed. Bill olive-green, base of 
upper mandible brown, base of lower mandible and bare skin yellow ; iris pale 
yellow ; feet whitish-brown, toes darker. Total length 890 mm. ; culmen 79, 
wing 347, tail 217, tarsus 48. 
Adult female. Head and hind-neck dark brown, becoming paler on the latter and everywhere 
mixed with white, a white line from the cheeks extending down the sides of the 
neck ; middle of back rust-brown ; scapulars dark brown centred with white ; wing- 
coverts brown, or black, also centred with white, major-coverts black and white ; 
bastard- wing, primary-coverts and quills uniform slatey -black, the innermost 
secondaries white on the outer webs ; tail, centre feathers silvery -grey, the outer ones 
darker and more slate-grey ; chin, throat, and entire under-surface buffy-white, 
a black patch on each side of the breast ; outer edge of wing bufEy- white. Bill 
bluish-grey, yellowish-grey below ; iris pale yellow ; feet creamy -yellow. Culmen 
67 mm., wing 357, tail 230, tarsus 44. 
Immature male {bird of the first year). Similar to the adult female, but difiPers in being 
darker on the back, the throat and fore-neck buff, the crown of head and hind-neck 
much darker brown, and the white streak on the cheeks distinctly outlined, as also 
the white edges to the feathers of the throat. 
Imrmture male {second year). This bird shows an advance of plumage by being darker 
on the head, hind-neck, and entire back ; the lower fore-neck is black, dark 
feathers are distributed over the under-surface, and the under tail-coverts are 
mixed with rufous. 
Immature male {third year). This individual is very nearly in the adult plumage, but 
stiU retains the brown of the immature on the top of the head and hind-neck ; the 
rufous on the fore-neck is more extensive and is intermixed with the black of the 
throat, and the white on the chin and sides of the head is well developed. 
Nestling. Covered with white down below and rusty-red on the neck and wing-coverts. 
The head and throat bare ; on the sides of the neck the white streak is just 
noticeable. Wings and tail black, tipped with buff. 
Nest. A platform composed of twigs and lined with leaves, about 16 in. across. Usually 
placed in low trees. 
Eggs. Clutch, three or four ; ground-colour greenish, covered with a coating of whitish 
lime. Axis 54-58 mm. ; diameter 33-36. 
Breeding-season. October to January, East Australia. February and March (Elsey), 
, North-west Australia. May and June, Northern Territory. 
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